How do you truly start over, and what does real reinvention look like? In this episode, Anna Donaghey talks with Andrew Drasen, author, speaker, and survivor about life beyond sobriety, diving into identity, purpose, and hope. Andrew’s journey goes far beyond addiction, spanning imprisonment, loss, and the search for meaning. He shares his struggles with self-image, rebellion, and choices that led to incarceration, as well as the heartbreak of losing loved ones, including his fiancée Caroline. Together, Anna and Andrew explore how we cling to unsustainable identities, and how radical acceptance, creative rebuilding, and writing his memoir A Vision of Hope became acts of healing. This conversation is a reminder that change is possible. Healing isn’t the end, it’s the beginning. Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Rethinking drinking and identity 01:15 Andrew’s story: addiction, loss, and the reckoning 02:42 Childhood, self-image, and early substance use 04:04 Identity as “life of the party” and rule-breaking 07:58 The snowball effect: risky behaviour and its consequences 09:40 False bravado, ego, and self-worth 13:01 First arrest and inevitability of trouble 15:49 Escalating to heroin and survival mode 17:47 Turning points: a break in sentencing and glimpses of hope 20:00 Recovery, 12-step meetings, and writing 21:32 Grieving loss, healing through creativity 22:07 Losing Caroline, deep identity work, and transformation 33:29 Andrew’s recovery framework 38:28 If you’re afraid of change: the courage to try 40:00 Recovery as a beginning, not an end. Anna’s book "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy! Order your copy, access her free tools and explore her coaching programmes at: https://thebigdrinkrethink.com/ The Thirsty For More Mindset Lab is Anna’s ‘inner circle’ - a calm, thoughtful space where conversations continue, patterns are explored, and things begin to make sense. Find out more at: https://thirstyformore.substack.com/ If you appreciate the podcast and would like to show a bit of love, you can donate the cost of a coffee here. It helps support the time and care that goes into making the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink About the host Anna: Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do. Connect with Anna: Website: thebigdrinkrethink.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink Produced by winteraudio.co.uk About Andew Drasen: Andrew Drasen is the author of A Vision of Hope and the creator of a 90-day framework that helps people discover identity, clarify direction, and build purpose-driven lives. His mission is to help people see not just who they are, but who they can become - transforming pain into growth and purpose. Listeners can visit Andrew’s website at avisionofhopebook.com to download the free preview pack, preorder the book, or sign up for the newsletter. It’s the best place to access all of his resources and stay connected. Connect with Andrew: Website: https://www.avisionofhopebook.com/
